Somewhere on the grounds of Vicksburg High’s football facility, there lays buried a DVD full of horrible images.

Interceptions. Easy touchdowns. Missed opportunities. Every conceivable football sin, all bundled in one tidy 2-hour package.

It was put in the ground a year ago, after Warren Central came into Memorial Stadium and handed Vicksburg a 42-0 beatdown that was one of the biggest blowouts in the 35-year history of the rivalry.

“That kind of loss there is something that you never forget. Fourteenth year of coaching, worst ever,” Vicksburg coach Marcus Rogers said. “That Sunday we had a team meeting-slash-practice. The DVD is out there behind the goal post. We buried it and tried to move on from there. We did win our next game after that, but it was a feeling you don’t want to ever feel again.”

The Gators don’t want to relive that night, but they haven’t forgotten it either. They’ll face Warren Central again Friday night at Viking Stadium with a 2-0 record under their belts and a growing confidence that this might be the year they turn things around after posting losing records in five of the past six seasons.

“It’s real big for the simple fact that it’s not just us against the school across town. It’s a 6A school that has been dominating the last couple of years with a great defense, just a great program. In those eyes, it’ll be a good victory because of who they are. They’re a prestigious program people have a lot of respect for,” Rogers said. “Everybody expects us to make a deep run next year, probably try to compete for the North half. I ask them every day why we can’t do it this year.”

Vicksburg has committed itself to establishing the run, but has so far won games with a suffocating defense and a big-play offense.

The defense, which has not allowed less than 24 points per game over the course of a season since 2008, has given up a total of 19 in wins over Harrison Central and Terry. The offense, meanwhile has scored four of its five touchdowns through the air — all on passes of 20 yards or more.

Quarterback Joe Johnson is averaging 20.7 yards per completion and leading receiver Tedarius Brown 27.4 yards per reception. The Gators are only averaging 3.9 yards per carry in the running game, but their commitment to it has kept defenses honest and close to the line. That, in turn, has left their speedy receivers in one-on-one coverage down the field. Those are the situations that turn into big plays.

“We’re going to it when we really need it,” Brown said. “We try to set it up with run fakes and then hit me one-on-one. It’s all about the protection and the quarterback getting it out there, but other than that I don’t think anyone can check it.”

Johnson’s steady improvement has also made the passing game more of a weapon. He only completed five passes against Harrison Central, but was 9-of-12 for 169 yards and two touchdowns against Terry.

The sophomore admitted nerves played a part in his so-so debut, but that he felt more comfortable against Terry.

“At the Red Carpet Bowl I came out and was real tense. Then with Terry, it started to slow down. That’s what Coach (Brandon) Boone and Coach Rogers have been trying to instill in me, is to slow things down,” Johnson said.

That’s music to Rogers’ ears. He liked the progression of his young quarterback from the first game to the second and is ready to dump more responsibility on his shoulders. A big part of this week’s practice has been getting Johnson to learn when to check out of plays and audible if things don’t look right.

“They say you make your biggest improvement from week one to week two, and he did a great job just having more confidence,” Rogers said. “He’s growing. I didn’t want to put too much on him early. But by Week 3 he needs to be ready, and it’s Week 3.”

Based on reputation, facing Warren Central’s vaunted defense might make this week’s game a difficult assignment for Johnson. Theses Vikings, though, have not yet played defense like the Vikings of recent vintage.

After leading Class 6A in scoring defense in 2013 and 2014, Warren Central has given up 42 points in each of its first two games and almost 200 rushing yards per game. Rogers, though, expected a bounce-back effort in a rivalry game that means more than regular-season matchups with infrequent opponents Wayne County and Pearl.

“They’re giving up 42 points a game. That doesn’t mean they’re going to give them up against us. They’re going to reach down and grab a little deeper for this one, because it’s big,” Rogers said. “You have to see these kids for another 364 days after this, until the next one comes. It’s going to be hard fought. I expect a bloodbath. It’s going to be a rumble in the jungle.”

Vicksburg at Warren Central

Friday, 7 p.m.

Radio: 1490 AM (Vicksburg)and 105.5 FM (Warren Central)

Online: For live scoring updates on Friday night, visit Facebook.com/thevicksburgpost and Twitter.com/vicksburgpost